Charges Against Lucas Tseki Withdrawn
JOHANNESBURG – Monday, 04 September: Businessman Lucas Tseki expressed joy and relief when the criminal case against him was withdrawn from the court roll this morning.
Tseki said justice finally prevailed after more than a year of his arrest and being released on bail.
Tseki, former group CEO of Concor Construction (Pty) Ltd, had appeared before the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on theft and fraud charges in August 2022 and was granted bail of R20 000.
The Hawks had alleged that Tseki and other business associates had allegedly defrauded the Industrial Development Company (IDC) of R185-million. The matter had been reported to the Hawks in May 2021.
Tseki appeared in court again in September and November, but the matter was postponed because the Hawks had still not prepared a docket and no charges were proffered against him and his co-accused.
Tseki requested the court to withdraw the charges on the basis that he was not an employee nor an agent of the borrower of IDC funds and neither did he have any authority nor capacity to able to use the IDC funds. He provided compelling evidence against the case made to him in his representations.
“I’m grateful that I have been able to prove my innocence. I believe in our justice system and remain committed to the process of the law and will avail myself to assist our government and IDC whenever requested to do so.,” Tseki said.
Tseki, had resigned his positions as director of a number of companies, including being the CEO of Concor to protect the companies from any adverse commercial consequence or derailment they could suffer due to the IDC criminal case.
He continues to be significantly invested in sectors core to his experience and expertise and seeks to actively invest, build, develop and operate best-in-class businesses to generate sustained value over time.
“For now, I am consolidating and refocusing Tseki Family business affairs, a family business trust, operating in multiple industries across core African geography with a strong conviction to compete globally,” he said.
He added that he will actively pursue investments, strategic partnerships and joint ventures in construction and real-estate, minerals and metals, energy and multi-disciplinary engineering services.
ISSUED BY: Rams Mabote
ON BEHALF OF: Lucas Tseki
FOR QUERIES EMAIL: rams@ramsmabote.com